Therapeutic structure



E. H. ToMPKlNs 2,951,478

Sept. 6, 1960 THERAPEUTIC STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May l0, 195722 v INVENTOR. Edwin H.Tomp|(ins Sept. 6, 1960 E. H. 'roMPKxNs 2,951,478

THERAPEUTIC STRUCTURE Filed May l0, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EdwinH .Tompkins ATTORNEYJ United States Patent G THERAPEUTIC STRUCTURE EdwinH. Tompkins, 1422 E. 6th St., Tucson, Ariz.

Filed May 10, 1957, Ser. No. 658,406

14 Claims. (Cl. 12S-33) This invention relates to therapeutic structuresand is directed particularly to a device of this nature incorporated inor combined. with the structure of a box spring designed to carry astandard mattress upon which a person may recline and a particularobject of the invention is to provide improved means for givingtherapeutic treatments to a person reclining on a mattress supported orcarried by the structure.

In my prior patents, No. 2,345,438 and No. 2,425,655, I haveincorporated a gyration creating device in an inner spring mattress, bywhich a person resting on' the mattress will receive gyratory impulsesthat stimulate improved blood circulation and nerve relaxation in theperson. Prior thereto vibration impulses, in contrast to gyratoryimpulses, had been imparted to mattresses and their supports, butvibratory impulses instead of being soothing and relaxing were in factannoying to the person receiving them, and no material and effectivestimulation of the blood circulation was observed. While the mattressescontaining mechanism for creating gyratory impulses gave good results,certain vexatious problems were encountered in their construction anduse. VFor example, mattresses are usually, if not always, enclosed, andsince the gyrations are created by electric motors with axiallyunbalanced armatures or rotors mounted in free floating condition in ahousing or support by resilient means, such as of elastic or resilientrubber, safety required the mounting of the motors and their housings inan exposed wall of the mattress where ventilation of the motor to theoutside of the mattress was possible. This made it possible -toeliminate heat from the motor and avoid lire hazards and damage to themattress and motor. It was also dificult to distribute the gyratoryimpulses from the housing located in a side or end wall uniformlythroughout the mattress while having the desired supporting softness orcomfort in the lfaces of the mattress. Users also placed sheets andblankets over the walls in which the motors were located, thatinterfered with necessary ventilation of the motor.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure for deliveringdesired gyratory impulses to a person, which is simple, relativelyinexpensive and practical and which is not open to the objections abovediscussed; with which a person receiving the gyratory impulses mayrecline upon a standard or any mattress of the degree of softnessdesired; with which the gyratory impulses will be distributed withuniform magnitude and eifectiveness throughout the mattress across itsentire face and hence to a person reclining thereon; which will decreasethe cost of providing for the gyratory impulses; which will provide fulland adequate ventilation of the motor and its housing in a manner wheresuch ventilation will not be interfered with by blankets, sheets andother bedding and in which the motor will be easily accessible for anyinspection or servicing that might be necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved box springtype structure having associated with it a more or less free floatinggyration producing unit by which the gyrations will be distributeduniformly throughout the structure and to aemattress carried thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a are ICC

character stated ywherein the gyration producing mecha-- msm is coupledin a novel manner with the springs of the a manner as hereinafter setforth, a box spring structure having a gyratory unit suspendedapproximately in the central portion thereof upon the conventionalsprings whereby to transmit gyratory motion throughout the structure forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth.

Other objectsvand advantages will appear from thex following descriptionof one embodiment of the invention' and the novel features will beparticularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appendedclaims.

In the drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a View of the underside or bottom of a box spring structureshowing therein the gyratory unit and mounting means of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the central part of the top of the boxspring structure with the covering fabric partially broken away andshowing the gyratory unit with the upper halves of the coil springsthereover;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane approximately onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and showing with the gyratory unit one of thesupporting coupling rods which are attached to certain of the coilsprings and which extend across the width of the box spring ortransversely thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3, which plane of section extends longitudinally ofthe box spring structure across the gyratory unit supporting rods;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged `detail view illustrating more speciiically thewire coil coupling two adjacent coilr springs and supporting and showingin cross section one rod which extends axially through the couplingcoil, the coil being in cross section and adjacent portions of theconnected coil spring also being broken away or in section;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view illustrating one form of gyra-Y tory unitwhich may be employed for producing the desired gyrations;

' Fig. 7 is an exploded view illustrating another form or embodiment ofthe gyratory unit;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 8 8 oflFig. l and showing a portion of the fabric only with this type of boxspring but may be embodied in any type of separate spring structureemployed to support any mattress or it may be embodied in a structuresuch as a sofa, lounge or the like, upon which a person may directlyrecline, so long as these structures are open on the underside to permitdesired ventilation of the gyration producing mechanism.

The box spring structure which is shown in Fig. 1 in bottom plan withthe gyratory unit mounted therein, is generally designated 10. Thisstructure is shown ias embodying a base frame made up of thelongitudinally extending side rails 12 and transversely extending endrails 14, which rails usually are of wood. In addition to the side andend rails which are dat members, as shown in Fig. 8 where one end railonly is illustrated in cross section, the box spring structure includesthe spaced apart manner as hereinafter set forth a spring structure oftheparallel bars or slats v16 which extend across the width.-

of the structure and connect the si de rails 12 together. Also Ithere isa single central bar `18 which extends longitudinally of the box springstructure and connects togsthsrthe transverse endrails Maud. iu additionto this single-central bar 18 the transverse end rails are connested byaA multiplicity of heavy longitudinally extend. ing wires 20.

Within the area defned by the longitudinal side rails 12v and, the`transverse ond rails 1.4 there are supported upon and secured to thetransverse slats 16 and the longitudinal. wires. 2.0.thooouveutiona1oompactly arranged coil springs 2.1... ThessY are, ofcourse, the. bottomends of the coil springs which are, secured: to the s1ats1;,6. andwires20 and any suitable means'may. b e employed, as indicated at 22,for effecting the securement of the springs, such securing means b eingconventional and well known;

The top of the box spring structure is outlined and defined by aheavy`wire frame 23 which isV of rectangular form and of approximately thesize of the outside dmensions of the bottom'frarne which is made up ofthe rails 1 2 and 14, the transverse and longitudinal slats 16 and-18and the wires 2 0. This rectangular top frame 2 3 is secured inconventional manner as indicated at 23a; to the adjacent outermost rowsof the coilsprings 21,. Running across the width of the box spring inthe plane of the heavy metal frame 23 are the conventional transversehelical wires 24 whichlie between the transverse rows of the verticalcoil springs 21 at the tops thereof and join thelattertogether.

The box spring structure is enclosed on its top and its ends and sidesby a suitable fabric covering such as is conventionally employed andwhich covering is designated 2 5, an d, as shown in Fig. 8, may besecured to the bottom frame, but this covering does not overlie thebotltorn side of the, box spring structure as it is preferred that,this'remain open for complete ventilation of the gyratory unithereinafter described.

In accordance with the present invention, in the central orapproximately central area of the box spring structure a number of theupright coil springs have the lower halves thereof removed or cut away,thereby providing, as is `clearly showninfFigs. 3 and 4, a space or area2,6. Inl thus cutting away thelower h alvesof the se1ected cer 1 trallylocated coil springs the upper halves remain connected with the adjacentfull or complete coil springs and are suspended in the upper part oftheopen area and these upper halves or upper portions of the coil springsare designated 21a.

Within the downwardly opening space or area there is supported, in themanner about to be described, a gyration producing unit which isgenerally designated 2 7. Two examples of such unit are illustrated inFigs. 6

l and 7;

For the mounting of the gyration producingV unit in the central area 26of -the box spring structure, the following means is employed.

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. l, which shows the bottom orunderside of the box spring structure, that the downwardly opening area26 is bordered by two complete rows of springs 2 1 extendingtransversely or acrossthe width of the box spring structure, which twocomplete rows of area bordering springs are each designated 33. Betweenthese complete transverse rows 33y are two rows of springs which maybeidentilied, for` distinction from the rows 33, as interruptedtransverse rows and these interrupted transverse rows areV eachdesignated 34. .Also it will be understoodthat the interf ruption ofthese rows is brought about by reason ofA the inclusion therein of thecut-off or half springs 21u. It will; be understood, of course, thattheV interrupted` rows 34 are coupled together at the tops of thespringsV to the tops of thesprings ofthe bordering rows 33..by thetransf versehelicalslfl andthe tops4 of the adjacentl complete 21u arealsov coupled together by a transverse h elsal 2.4

Springs 2.1 and the adjacentincomplete or half springs as is clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

Below the tops of the coil springs each of the transverse rows 33 iscoupled for a distance on each side of the open area 26 with thecomplete coil springs of the adjacent interrupted row 34 by means of apair of elongate coupling helicals or coupling springs 3 5.Thecollneoting together or couptinaot thbsntiugs, Qt each row 33. withthe adjacent full or complete springs ofv the row 34 by these CountingIndicate-.35. is. etteotedhv A threadiuaoach pair of coupling helicals,or springsv 35 onto adjacent convolutions of the coils of the rows 33vand 34 so that the coupling pairs of helicals tie together the adjacentconvolutions of the rows ofv springs, 3,3.;and34. As stated,v thesetying or coupling helicals or springs 3 5 are located below the tops ofthe coil springs 2 1, preferably at about the second orr thirdconvolution dov/non each of the spring 21, as shown in Figs. 3 andS. Thetwo coupling springs 3 5 o f each pair, which are in algumentacrossthewidth of the box spring structure, have spaced apart inner ends whichare,

located approximately at the sides of the area 2 6.

Following the. application of the two pairs of tie or couplinghelicalsor springs35 to the adjacent rows 33 and 34 of theuprightsprings 21, there is extended axially of and through the twoalignedv coupling helicals 35 of each pair, a supporting. orgsnspensionrod 36 and these two rods bridge the area space 26 for supporting thegyratory unit 27 in themanneo illustrated most clearly` in Figs. 3 andl.

After the supporting rods 36 have been inserted into the coupling ortying helicals 35, the two ends of each rod are turned down as..indicated; at 37 so yas to prevent the rod from moving lengthwisethrough the tie springs. While the rods 36l have been shown as havingthe ends turned down to prevent the rods 'from shifting, any othersuitable means may be placed on the rods for this purpose, if desired.

The gyrationproducing unit 2.7, as previously` stated, is located inabout the centerofthe box spring structure vin the open area 26, auditssidesfare disposed adjacent to the rods 36 and the mounting plate 32 oneach side of thel producing -unit 27 is mounted uponthe rods 36 with theaxisV of the rotor shaft directedtransversely of the spring structure orin parallel relation with the transversely directed supporting rods.

In the structure shown in Fig. 6, one type of mounting for the electricmotor isi-illustrated while in the structure shown in Fig. 7 anothermounting means is shown In the structure of Fig. 6 the inner faces ofthe side walls 29 have secured thereto the upright channel members 39 ineach of which is a channel strip 41 of highly resilient rubber.Extending across the bottom 40 of the housing between the uprighthighlyresilient rubber strips '41 on the opposite side walls is a bottomhighly resilient rubber strip 42.

The oppositely positioned rubber channels 41 have mounted therebetweenand slidably engaged therein motor supporting bracket plates 43 each ofwhichatits bottom edge rests on a bottom live rubber-strip 4 2. Theseplates have their inner faces recessed as at 44and in the center of eachrecess is an opening45 for the extension through the plate oftheadjacentendof the armature shaft 4 6 of the motor.Y The openings` 4 5;are., much larger than the shaft 46 to enable the shaftk tQ movelaterally in the openings 4.5.

aan 1,453

Encircling each end of the body or the field coil encasing housing 47 ofthe motor, is an elastic rubber mounting cup ring 48 which lits in theadjacent bracket plate recess 44 and which has a central opening 49aligning with the opening 4S of the bracket plate for the extension ofthe armature shaft therethrough.

Upon the outer or remote sides of the mounting plates 43 the armatureshaft 46 of the motor has fixed thereto aneccentric weight 56 andoutwardly from each of these off-center or off-balance weights thearmature shaft has a fan S1 mounted thereon and fixed thereto.

The housing 28 may be closed in any suitable manner as by means of aremovable top or cover 52, and elastic rubber strips 42 are disposedbetween the cover and the upper edges of the plates 43.

Fig. 7 shows a second form of gyration producing structure which inFigs. l to 4 is generally designated 27 and which reference character,of course, refers to both forms shown. In this second form of thegyration producing structure a housing or casing S3 is illustratedhaving side walls 54 and end walls, one only of which is illustrated andwhich is designated 55 and which walls have ventilation openings 56.

From the top part of each side wall extends a mounting plate 54a whichis designed to be attached in the manner hereinbefore set forth to a rod36 which is suspended on the vertical springs 21.

The numeral 57 generally designates a conventional type of electricmotor to each end of the body of which is fixed a mounting adapter whichcomprises a circular plate 58 carrying the outwardly directed flange 59.

The numeral 60 designates the shaft of the motor armature and thispasses through an elastic rubber mounting ring 6l which is carried onand encircles the fiange 59. The ring 61 in turn is fitted into thecircular band 62 forming a part of a mounting bracket plate 63 whichCarries four attaching lugs 64 disposed in rectangular arrangement toposition in the housing 53 between the side walls 54 thereof to whichthey are secured by screws or in any other suitable manner.

The armature shaft 60 extends from each end of the motor body as will bereadily understood, and each end of the shaft upon the outer side of themounting bracket 63 has the eccentric or olf-balance weight 65 fixedthereto and outwardly of each weight is fixed a cooling fan 66.

The electric motor in the gyration unit 27 is supplied with currentthrough a twin cable 67, and is smaller than the housing so that byreason of its mounting in elastic rubber, the entire motor can gyrate inthe housing.

It will be seen upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4, that the gyrationproducing unit 27, such as, for example, either the form shown in Fig. 6or that shown in Fig. 7, is of an overall height materially less thanthe height of the upright coil springs 21 vof the box spring structureand that when the unit 27 is attached by the mounting flanges or platescarried by the sides of the motor housing, to the supporting rods 36, itwill be suspended within the area 26 and supported entirely by certainof the conventional vertical coil springs of the box spring structure inwhich it may be installed. Upon the operation of the motor in thehousing, the eccentric weights attached to the motor armature willproduce a gyratory motion of the motor in a small closed loop path inthe housing and this motion will be imparted to the housing and throughit -to the supporting rods 36 and through them and the coupling tiesprings or helicals 35 to the conventional coil springs 21. Since thecoil springs 21 are yall coupled together and the gyration producingunit is located in the central part of the box spring structure, it willbe seen that the gyratory motion produced by the rotating eccentricallymounted weights will be evenly distributed from the center of the springstructure in all directions outwardly. Consequently a person resting onamattress placed upon the structure will receive the de- 6 siredgyratory impulses and be soothed, relaxed.. and otherwise benefited bysuch motion.

The unbalanced rotor of the. motor. will..cause A,the motor as an entityto move in a gyratory or closed loop path of small diameter, which ispermitted bythe elastic mounting of the motor in the housing. The motor,with its mass, upon gyrating will cause gyrations ofthe housing, andthose gyrations will be distributed throughout all of the springs byreason of their interconnectionto one another and to the housing. Amattresscarried by the gyrating spring will receive such impulses andtransmit the gyrations to a person rresting on the mattress. This hasbeen established by stroboscopic tests. Since the box spring structureis open on the lower side, air can freely circulate to the housing andmotor, and avoid any danger of excessive heat, and no blankets or sheetsused in making a zbed on the mattress will interfere with thisventilation of the motor and its housing.

The approximately central disposition of the motor and housing in thebox spring frame will cause uniform dis.` tribution of the gyratoryimpulses to all parts of the spring and mattress. This enables anymattress of ones choice to be used, for maximum comfort, and still havethe gyratory impulses delivered to a person resting on the mattress.

While the gyratory unit has been illustrated and described as beingdirectly in the center of the box spring fname and this is the preferredlocation, it may be disposed somewhat toward one or the other of theends of the box spring frame without impairing the efficiency of itsaction.

As will be readily apparent, by the removal of the lower halves of thesprings 21 in the center of the box spring structure, leaving intact theupper halves, or portions Zla, the top surface continuity or evenness ofthe structure is maintained. Thus a mattress lying on the box springwill keep level or will be properly evenly supported throughout.

I claim:

l. A therapeutic structure comprising a supporting coil spring structurefor a separate mattress and wherein such structure comprises abase-frame, and an approximately horizontal, flexible top Wall spacedabove the base frame, a multiplicity of upright coil springs carried bythe frame below and supporting said top wall and coupled together inclosely associated side-by-side relation, and a unit having an axiallyunbalanced rotary element disposed for rotation on a horizontal axis forcreating gyratory impulses, a supporting housing for and in which saidunit is free to gyrate, there being an elastic medium between the unitand the housing for transmitting gyrations of the unit to the housing,the relationship of the springs being modified in the approximate centerof the support to provide an open area, and said housing being attachedto certain of the springs intermediate of their ends, at opposide sidesof said area and spaced from said frame and top wall and supported forrelatively free floating motion in the area.

2. A therapeutic structure comprising spaced top and bottom frames, amultiplicity of coil springs mounted between yand coupled to the frames,said springs being arranged in two groups made up of a number ofcomplete rows extendi-ng in one direction across the structure betweenopposite sides and a number of other rows paralleling the first rows andlying between the two groups,

said other rows being interrupted in the bottom portions thereofsubstantially midway between their ends and providing with adjacentcomplete rows an open area approximately centrally of the structure, apair of supports disposed across opposite sides of said open area andattached to adjacent springs, and a gyration generating unit between andattached to said supports and suspended in said open area andfunctioning to transmit gyratory I impulses throughout the structure.

3. A therapeutic structure comprising spaced top and bottom frames, amultiplicity of coil springs mounted between and coupled to the frarnes,l said springs being arranged in fwusreuae made up ef e numbereteamplete, rows extendingV inl onedirection across thestructure betweenOpposite Sides. and a' number ef' other, ruwe perallelineftherst 'ruweand' lruef between the twe groups, said other rows being incomplete inthey bottom portions thereof substantially midway between their endsand'providing with adjacent complete rows an open area approximately,centrally ofthe structure, a coupling means befweeu Springs efV eeeh efftwo ineenlalete'ruwe and springs of.V one of saidadjacent complete rows,an elongate support Carried by, eeen eeuplrine meens, Seid snpprts,extending across opposite sides of said openareapand a gyrationgeneratingunit between and attached to said supportsl and suspendedthereby in said' open area and funefenina te transmit gyretury impulsesthroughout the structure.v

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein they said coupling meansis connected with convolutions of the coil springs ofthe respectivecoupled complete and ineeulplete. ruwe between the. middle and rep endsQf the springs.

5. A therapeutic structure comprising spaced top and bottom fram-es, amultiplicity of coil springs mounted between and coupled to the frames,the structure being of rectangular outline, said springs being arrangedin two groups made up of a number of complete rows extending in onedirection across the structure between opposite sides and 'a number ofother rows paralleling the first rows and lying between the two groups,said other rows being incomplete substantially midway between their endsand providing with adjacent complete rows an openl area approximatelycentrally of the structure, a coupling means between the springs of eachof two incomplete rows and springs of one of' said adjacent completerows,

the said coupling means comprising elongate spiral 4springs extendinglongitudinally of' said rows of coil springs with certain of theirconvolutions encircling adjacent convolutiornrs` of the coil springs,elongate support members extending axially through the spiral' springs,the support members extending across opposite sides of said open area,`and a gyration generating-limit between and, attached to said supportsand suspended thereby in said having an armature shaft and an eccentricweight thereon to turn therewith and produce axial imbalance thereof,andthe attachment of the unit embodies mounting plates integralwithopposite sides of; the housing `and secured to the supports.

9. The invention according` to, claim 8, whereinV said motor ispositioned to have the armature shaft tlnereofv directed transversely ofthe structure.

10. A therapeutic structurecompn'sing a supporting coil spring structurefor a separate mattress wherein in. said structure there is adownwardlyopenbase frame, a flat upper wall, a multiplicity of upright coilsprings carried by the frame, the4 springs being coupled' together; inclosely associated sideeby-side relation and' supporting said flat upperwall, and a, unit having an axially unbalancedelement rotatable aboutjanaxis parallel tov said,-

upper wall, 'for creating gyratorry impulses, aV housingl in being anelastic medium between the the housing for transmitting therapeuticgyrations of the unit to. the housing, the relationship ofthe springsbeing modified tov provide between them a small open spring free area,and means for attaching said housing tov certain of the springs atopposite sides of` said area'andsupporting the housing for relativelyfree floating motion in the area, as permitted by the springs to whichthe housing is attached,

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the last means includesspaced rods attached to the housing and extending in a directionhorizontally and transversely ofthe structure.

12. A therapeutic device having a flat upper surface for supporting aseparate mattress on which a person to be treated with gyrat-oryimpulses may be supported, saidY device comprising a downwardly openframe, Acoil springs supported side by Side on and upstandiug from saidframe and articulately tied together and to the frame, a flexiblesheet-like element disposed in a horizontal plane above andA supportedresiliently by said coil springs, and confined at its edges tov saidframe, a housing disposed between certain of" said springs and |belowsaid element and spaced from both said trarne and' said' element,

means attaching said housing to a plurality of said springs at pointsintermediate of the ends of such springs, an electric motor with arotatable shaft that has a substantial axial unbalance, disposed 'withinsaid housing in spaced relation to all of the walls of the housing andwith said shaft approximately horizontal, and resilient interponentmeans disposed between the walls of the housing and said motor andproviding a resilient floating support for the motor in said housing,wherebywhen said motor is operated, its unbalanced shaft will cause themotor to gyrate bodily in said housing and through said interponentmeans cause said housing to gyrate and thereby transmit gyratoryimpulses from the housing through the springs to said element andanything supported on it, and heat from said motor will be dissipateddownwardly through the open frame.

13. A therapeutic devicehaving anV approximately horizontal uppersurface for supporting a separate mattress on which a personl tobetreated with gyratory impulses may be` supported, said devicecomprising a box spring downwardly open at'its lower surface and havingas its upper surface an approximatelyhorizontal, exible, sheetlikeelement andas a support for said element a plurality of upright coil.springs arranged side by side and articulatelyconnected together to forma resilient unit, and electrically operated gyratory impulse creatingmeans disposed within said box spring, below 'and spacedy fromsaidsheet-like. element and -oatingly supported by andfbetween certainof said coil springs intermediate of their ends, said electricallyoperatedl means having a rotatable shaft axially unbalanced to asubstantial extent disposed with its axis approximately horizontal,whereby the gyratory impulses created by said electrically operatedmeanswill be in a closed loopv about said horizontal shaft axis andtransmitted through said springs to saidelement and anything resting onitL and heat from said electricallyoperated means may be dissipatedthrough the said downward Vopening of the box spring by air circulation;

1-4'. The device as set forth in claimfl's, wherein said shaft axis isdisposed in ay directionfcrosswise o the length of they box spring.

References Cited in the tile ofthisfpatent- UNITED, STATES PATENTS kannew'

